A Georgetown Life: The Reminiscences of Britannia Wellington Peter Kennon of Tudor Place - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1647120411 ISBN 13: 9781647120412

Publisher: Georgetown University Press, 2020

Synopsis

An invaluable primary resource for understanding nineteenth-century America.

As a Georgetown resident for nearly a century, Britannia Wellington Peter Kennon (1815 – 1911) was close to the key political events of her time. Born into the prominent Peter family, Kennon came into contact with the many notable historical figures of the day who often visited Tudor Place, her home for over ninety years. Now published for the first time, the record of her experiences offers a unique insight into nineteenth-century American history.

Housed in the Tudor Place archives, "The Reminiscences of Britannia Wellington Peter Kennon" is a collection of Kennon’s memories solicited and recorded by her grandchildren in the 1890s. The text includes Kennon’s memories of her mother Martha Custis Peter and spending time at Mount Vernon with her grandparents George and Martha Washington. It also includes her recollections of childhood in Georgetown, life during the Civil War, the people enslaved at Tudor Place, and daily life in Washington, DC.

Edited by Grant Quertermous, this richly illustrated and annotated edition gives readers a greater appreciation of life in early Georgetown. It includes a guide to the city's streets then and now, a detailed family tree, and an appendix of the many people Britannia encountered―a who's who of the period. Readers will also find Britannia's narrative an essential companion to the incredible collection of objects preserved at Tudor Place. Notable for both its breadth and level of detail, A Georgetown Life brings a new dimension to the study of nineteenth-century America.

About this title

About the Author

Grant S. Quertermous is the curator of Tudor Place Historic House and Garden. He holds a graduate degree in anthropology and has worked in the museum field, specifically focused on historic house museums and their inhabitants, for twenty years.

From the Back Cover

Washington, DC / US History

As curator of Tudor Place, Grant Quertermous is uniquely qualified to tell this special American story of life in the oldest neighborhood in the nation s capital. His well-annotated edition of Britannia Peter Kennon s Reminiscences with an introductory biography is a significant addition to the history of Georgetown and the surrounding Washington city during the nineteenth century. Kathleen Menzie Lesko, coauthor of Black Georgetown Remembered

A Georgetown Life opens a window onto the world of America s nineteenth-century aristocracy. Carefully edited and annotated by Grant Quertermous, Britannia Wellington Peter Kennon s recollections reveal the social network, material culture, and memory-work of a formidable woman at the heart of one of Washington s most historic homes, Tudor Place. This volume is a valuable contribution to the history of the nation s capital. Adam Rothman, professor, Department of History, Georgetown University

A rare gem in the literature of Washington, DC, history. Grant Quertermous has meticulously and brilliantly annotated Britannia Peter Kennon s charming biographical reminiscences oral histories compiled by her grandchildren which shed light on her life and her network of friends, employees, neighbors, and many relations. Matthew B. Gilmore, editor, H-DC, Washington, DC, History Network

From the Inside Flap

A window into nineteenth-century Washington, DC, as it was experienced by Georgetown grande dame Britannia Kennon

As a Georgetown resident for nearly a century, Britannia Wellington Peter Kennon (1815 1911) witnessed an extraordinary period of American history. Born into the prominent Peter family, Kennon came into contact with many notable figures of the day as they frequented Tudor Place, her home for over ninety years.

Housed in the Tudor Place archives, The Reminiscences of Britannia Wellington Peter Kennon is a collection of Kennon s memories as solicited and recorded by her grandchildren in the 1890s. Now published for the first time, the record of her experiences offers a unique insight into nineteenth-century life in the nation s capital.

The Reminiscences include Kennon s recollections of her mother, Martha Custis Peter, who was born at Mount Vernon and visited frequently as Martha Washington s grandchild. Kennon also recounts her childhood in Georgetown, her experience of the Civil War, and daily life in Washington, DC. Along the way, she introduces readers to many historical and political figures, including presidents of the United States, Lafayette, Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, Daniel Webster, and John C. Calhoun. She also records her memories of the enslaved and domestic servants at Tudor Place, including John Luckett, a self-emancipated man who worked as her gardener for more than forty-four years.

Edited by Grant S. Quertermous, this richly illustrated and annotated edition gives readers a greater appreciation of life in early Georgetown. It includes a guide to the city s streets both then and now, a detailed family tree, and an appendix of the many people Britannia encountered a who s who of the period. Readers will also find this book an essential companion to the incredible collection of objects preserved at Tudor Place. Notable for both its breadth and level of detail, A Georgetown Life brings a new dimension to the study of nineteenth-century America.

Grant S. Quertermous is the curator and director of collections for the Classical American Homes Preservation Trust. As the former curator of Tudor Place Historic House and Garden, he spent five years researching the Peter family and their ownership of the National Historic Landmark property in Georgetown.

Edition details

• Publisher: Georgetown University Press
• Publication date: 2020
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1647120411
• ISBN 13: 9781647120412
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 242
• Editor: Quertermous Grant S.